Inner Court, First Floor
While Xiao Bai was engrossed in his pill refinement, Xun'er sat alone at a table on the first floor of the pavilion, her chin resting in her hand. She idly twirled a strand of dark hair that fell over her shoulder, her expression tinged with boredom.
Suddenly, the sound of a door opening broke the quiet. Xu Su entered, accompanied by three others, one of whom was Tu Shan.
"Xun'er, they say they have something to discuss with Xiao Bai. I couldn't make the call, so I brought them to you to decide," Xu Su said softly, a faint smile on her lips as she approached.
"Looking for Xiao Bai-gege?" Xun'er's curious eyes turned to Tu Shan. "What's the matter?"
Tu Shan gave a wry smile, shaking his head before nodding to the young man beside him. "Mu Chuan, you explain."
"It's like this, Miss Xun'er," Mu Chuan began, his voice tense. "This morning, a group of senior students came to the freshman area, demanding a so-called 'freshman tribute fee'—two days' worth of Fire Energy per person. They claimed it's a tradition for new students entering the Inner Court."
"We're new here, so we figured since it's an established rule, we'd comply. We paid the Fire Energy without complaint. But no sooner had the first group left than more seniors kept showing up, one after another, blocking the passageway and demanding we pay again. Including the first group, we've had five waves already! If this keeps up, all the Fire Energy we earned following Boss Xiao will be completely drained by these seniors!"
Mu Chuan's eyes reddened, his fists clenched tightly, his voice thick with frustration.
"Oh?" Xun'er's expression remained calm, but her eyes narrowed slightly. "So, you're here to ask Xiao Bai-gege to stand up for you?"
Mu Chuan's lips twisted into a bitter smile. "I asked a friend to look into it. In previous years, freshmen paid this 'tribute fee' only once, and that was it. But this year, it's different. We're being hounded by wave after wave, like wolves pouncing on prey."
"According to my friend, it's because Boss Xiao single-handedly crushed the seniors, letting us freshmen walk away with a hefty amount of Fire Energy. Some seniors feel cheated and unbalanced. They don't dare confront Boss Xiao directly, so they're taking it out on us instead. That's why this is happening."
"Are you saying you blame my Xiao Bai-gege for this?" Xun'er's eyes turned icy, a faint golden glint flickering within them as her voice grew cold.
The air in the room seemed to heat up, an intangible pressure weighing on everyone's hearts, making it hard to breathe. The group stared in shock at the pure, lotus-like girl before them.
Xiao Bai's brilliance at Jia Nan Academy had been so dazzling that they'd overlooked the two girls by his side, assuming their entry into the Inner Court was merely due to his influence. Now, they realized their mistake. This quiet, unassuming beauty who revolved around Xiao Bai was terrifyingly powerful in her own right.
It dawned on them: how could a girl who captured the heart of a prodigy like Xiao Bai be anything less than extraordinary?
"No, no!" Mu Chuan hurriedly waved his hands, his voice urgent. "We don't blame Boss Xiao at all!"
As the oppressive aura receded, he let out a relieved breath. "Boss Xiao took down the seniors' arrogance single-handedly, letting all us freshmen hold our heads high in the Fire Energy Hunt. We admire him deeply—how could we blame him?"
"We know that in the Inner Court, if you're weak, getting bullied by seniors is inevitable. We didn't come here to ask Boss Xiao to fight our battles or shield us from future harassment."
"We just want to borrow his reputation to stop this endless exploitation. All we're asking for is the same treatment as past freshmen. If this keeps up, we won't even have enough Fire Energy to enter the Heavenly Flame Refining Qi Tower. How are we supposed to cultivate in the Inner Court?"
Mu Chuan glanced cautiously at the green-robed girl by the table, seeing her expression unchanged. Gritting his teeth, he added, "If it comes to it, we'd rather hand over the 'tribute fee' to Boss Xiao than let those jerks take it!"
Xun'er's jade-like fingers tapped lightly on the table as she considered his words. "Keep your Fire Energy," she said. "If Xiao Bai-gege took it, how would he be any different from those seniors?"
"As for your request, I'll discuss it with him and decide later."
Just as she finished speaking, a clear, resonant voice echoed through the room: "I understand."
"Boss Xiao!" Mu Chuan's eyes lit up, recognizing the voice instantly. He opened his mouth to plead further, but the voice cut him off: "No need to say more. Go back."
Mu Chuan swallowed his words, his heart racing with both awe at Xiao Bai's mysterious methods and anxiety over what this meant. Was it agreement or refusal? He glanced at Tu Shan, who shrugged helplessly, equally clueless.
"No need to speculate," Xun'er said, her lips curving into a gentle smile as she noticed their exchange. "Xiao Bai-gege has agreed. If he hadn't, he wouldn't have bothered responding. Go on, head back."
"But…" Mu Chuan's excitement was tempered by hesitation. If Xiao Bai agreed, shouldn't he at least say how he'd handle it?
"Let's go," Tu Shan said, tugging at Mu Chuan's arm. "If the boss says he's got it, he'll handle it."
"Alright." Mu Chuan gave a wry smile, shaking his head. He stopped Tu Shan's pull, bowed deeply, and said, "Thank you, Boss Xiao. From now on, this year's freshmen will follow your lead!"
Unsure of Xiao Bai's location, he and the other freshman who'd come with him bowed toward the center of the hall. Receiving no response, they left with Tu Shan.
Watching their retreating figures, Xu Su sighed softly. "I never imagined the Inner Court could be so harsh. Those seniors are going too far!"
"That's just how this world works—survival of the fittest," Xun'er replied, her eyes flicking to Xu Su. "The academy's just preparing students for it early. Didn't your brother tell you about this?"
"He mentioned it, but I thought since this is still an academy, with everyone as classmates, it wouldn't be that bad," Xu Su said, her cheeks flushing under Xun'er's curious gaze. "I didn't expect…"
"…" Xun'er gave her a wordless look.
Outside the Pavilion
Tu Shan and the other two stepped out, exchanging uncertain glances.
"Brother Tu, Brother Mu, what do we do now? Those seniors are still blocking the passageway!" the other freshman said, his voice trembling with frustration. "Even if Boss Xiao agreed, he's not here. Just us talking won't intimidate those jerks!"
Mu Chuan sighed, his face clouded with worry. "Let's head back and check on Gangzi and the others. That guy's got a temper—hope he hasn't clashed with the seniors already."
"Let's go," Tu Shan said, clapping their shoulders. "Who knows? Maybe the boss is already at Gangzi's side by now."
Mu Chuan and the other freshman perked up, exchanging a glance. Given Xiao Bai's uncanny abilities, it wasn't impossible. With a spark of hope, they hurried toward the freshman area's passageway.
A few minutes later, they arrived to find a large crowd gathered at the entrance, eerily silent.
The passageway was blocked by a dozen seniors wearing tower-shaped badges on their chests, with a larger group of onlookers—more seniors—standing behind them.
The onlookers wore mocking smiles, clearly enjoying the spectacle. To them, this was a rite of passage they'd endured, though not quite as ruthlessly. They said nothing, waiting to see how this would play out, as the outcome would shape the seniors' stance.
Suddenly, one of the blocking seniors spotted Tu Shan's group returning. His eyes scanned them warily, but seeing only the same three from before—no sign of the white-haired figure in black—his smirk widened. "Looks like your so-called 'boss' doesn't care about you lot. All that talk, and you've come back empty-handed!"
The crowd followed his gaze, noting Tu Shan's group. When no one else appeared, the seniors' laughter grew bolder, while the freshmen's faces fell with disappointment.
"Alright, you said you'd get someone, and we let you try. No luck, huh? Two days' Fire Energy each, and we'll ensure your safety in the Inner Court. That's a fair deal, isn't it?" a young man, about twenty-three or twenty-four, said coolly, eyeing the grim-faced Tu Shan and Mu Chuan.
"Hmph! Don't think we're clueless just because we're new!" Mu Chuan snapped, his face flushed with anger. "The tribute fee is real, but in past years, freshmen paid only two factions at most. After that, any other faction wanting a cut had to deal with those two, not us!"
"But you? Five waves since this morning! Where are we supposed to get that much Fire Energy?"
"I don't care who you paid before," a hawk-nosed youth stepped forward, ignoring the freshmen's fiery glares. His voice was slow and deliberate. "But my Mo Sect's tribute fee—you will pay."
"Mo Sect?!" Tu Shan exclaimed, his face tightening with apprehension. "You're from Mo Sect?"
"Well, well!" The hawk-nosed youth's lips curled into a smug grin. "Not bad, you've heard of us."
Seeing the confusion in Mu Chuan and the others' eyes, Tu Shan explained grimly, "Mo Sect is the top faction in the Inner Court right now. Their leader ranks second on the Strong List—a nine-star Dou Ling!"
"Nine-star Dou Ling?!" The freshmen exchanged stunned looks, silenced by the revelation.
"At that level… does he even need our measly two days' Fire Energy? Why bother robbing us?" one freshman muttered indignantly.
"Maybe it's his idea, maybe it's just his lackeys'. Who knows?" Tu Shan shook his head bitterly.
"So, what do we do? Do we pay?" another freshman asked nervously, swallowing hard.
"Pay? No way!" Mu Chuan growled. "First faction or last, what's the difference to us?"
"They're all too strong for us to handle, so we might as well stand our ground!" He scanned the group. "No one pays. If we keep giving, it'll never stop. They won't quit until they've bled us dry. Do you want to be left with nothing when the Heavenly Flame Refining Qi Tower opens?"
"But what can we do? They're blocking the way—we can't even leave!" a freshman asked.
"We wait," Tu Shan and Mu Chuan said in unison, exchanging a determined glance.
On the other side, the hawk-nosed youth had been pleased to see the freshmen's fear of Mo Sect, but their resolve darkened his expression. "Listen, kids, this isn't the Outer Court. In the Inner Court, outside the Arena, you can't kill, but a little sparring? That's fair game."
"Without our protection, I can't guarantee you won't suffer a few bruises. Why be stubborn over a bit of Fire Energy?"
"You—!" The freshmen seethed, their eyes blazing. Protection? Without you, we'd be just fine!
At that moment, a subtle, ethereal aura began to envelop the area. Some sharp-sensed seniors glanced up, but saw only blue skies and drifting clouds. Puzzled, they scratched their heads.
"Protect them? You can't even protect yourself," a distant, indifferent voice echoed in everyone's ears.
"Who's that?" The hawk-nosed youth scanned the surroundings, his face a mix of shock and suspicion. The seniors behind him mirrored his unease.
"Boss!"
"Boss Xiao!"
Tu Shan and Mu Chuan's eyes lit up with joy. Though this voice was colder, more detached, and loftier than the warm, clear tone from the pavilion, they were certain it was Xiao Bai's.
"It's really Boss Xiao!" The freshmen, hearing their excitement, erupted in cheers, their earlier despair replaced by hope. They'd thought Tu Shan and Mu Chuan had failed to get help, but this was an unexpected turn.
"The Demon… Xiao Bai!" The hawk-nosed youth's pupils contracted, his face tightening with deep wariness. He knew Liu Qing and Lin Yan's strength—either alone he could handle, but together, he stood no chance.
Scanning the area and finding no source for the voice, his apprehension grew. He shouted, "Xiao Bai! We haven't gone to your pavilion to collect any tribute. This has nothing to do with you. Stay out of it, or Mo Sect… we have our own powerhouses!"
After a moment of silence, with no response, the youth exhaled, assuming Xiao Bai had backed off. Tch, what a coward, he thought, sneering inwardly. Less spine than these freshmen.
His fellow seniors shared the sentiment, disappointed at missing a chance to see the so-called "Demon," only to find him a spineless bully. The freshmen's hopeful smiles began to falter, their eyes clouding with doubt.
Just as the hawk-nosed youth opened his mouth to continue, a chill ran through him. His hair stood on end, his instincts screaming of imminent danger—a terror so profound it felt like death itself.
The sensation was hauntingly familiar, reminiscent of when he, a fresh Dou Ling, had been hunted by a fifth-tier magical beast in the Inner Court's back mountains, fleeing for his life.
I'll die!
With no time to think, his Dou Qi surged instinctively, summoning a yellowish-brown armor that encased his body.
The seniors behind him stared, baffled by his sudden action. The freshmen, thinking he was about to attack, braced themselves warily.
Amid the varied reactions, a low, rumbling sound, like muffled thunder, rolled through the air.
Suddenly, a blinding golden light appeared, forcing everyone to squint.
The light wasn't just light—it was lightning. A golden bolt, thick as a bowl, materialized in the sky above, accompanied by an increasingly distinct roar of thunder. Like divine judgment, it struck down in the horrified gazes of the crowd.
Its target: the hawk-nosed youth.
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